I went to a movie theater and watched "Fallen Leaves," directed by Aki Kariusumäki.
 
At first, I thought the film might be set in Finland about 20 or 30 years ago, but the news coming from the radio featured the more recent Russia-Ukraine war. I was puzzled by the anachronisms that suddenly showed on the screen, but as soon as I began to understand that the loneliness and anxiety that human beings have are the norm, I fell into the story.
 
It’s a love story of a middle-aged man and woman who seem to have some hard experiences in each other’s life. Although the whole story is dark, there are some silly scenes. During the movie, I chuckled many times, and other audience members did too, which created a warm atmosphere as a whole. I was also relieved to see the two main characters smiling.
 
In addition, the actors' way of speaking and the use of red color on the screen were very touching, if you’re a big fan of Yasujiro Ozu’s works. I was also interested in the use of the jackets in the story. It seems to reflect each character and generation.
 
I am so glad that I could see this film at the end of the year 2023, with its mixture of sad and heartwarming emotions.